Dr. John Holcomb is one of the most legendary trauma surgeons alive.

He shares untold details from Black Hawk Down, where he operated for over 30 hours straight during the infamous battle in Somalia in 1993.

He opens up about the chaos, grit, and brutal realities of combat medicine — and how that moment shifted his mission for life.

Now, he's focused on saving lives before patients even reach the hospital. From pioneering blood delivery systems to taking five trips to the frontlines of Ukraine, Dr. Holcomb’s work is reshaping modern trauma care.

This is more than a war story — it’s a raw look at courage, purpose, humility and what it means to serve on the edge of life and death.

🔊 What You'll Learn:

• Behind-the-scenes of the Black Hawk Down mission

• How Holcomb handled nonstop surgery for 30+ hours

• The innovation driving pre-hospital blood care

• Why he keeps returning to Ukraine to help in war zones

• The mindset that sustains people in the world’s most high-stakes environments

  
  

  You can learn more about his work here: https://prehospitaltransfusion.org/

  
  

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Jess Mah has packed more into 35 years than most do in a lifetime:

9-figure serial founder & Y Combinator alumna personally mentored by Paul Graham

Launched fintech rocket ship inDinero while still a CS student at UC Berkeley (after skipping two grades in high school)

Commercial pilot who captains her own jet

Curator of Outcove Valley, an invite-only summit for world-class leaders

DJ & relentless community builder

In this raw Permission to Shine conversation, Jess pulls back the curtain on success and shares:

The hidden costs of big money, big fame, and an inbox that never sleeps

Why you probably wouldn’t trade lives with most ultra-wealthy people if you knew the whole story

Losing her partner, a decorated vet, to PTSD-related suicide, and how grief reframed her definition of “winning”

Rituals that keep her grounded

Founder tactics: hiring A-players, raising cash when markets freeze, and the underrated superpower of genuine relationships

Big takeaway: Gratitude for the life you already have can be more liberating than any net-worth milestone.

🔔 Subscribe | Review | Share: help us bring more world-class, humble high-performers to your ears.

📧 Feedback & sponsorship: [email protected]

🔗 Connect with Jess Mah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamah/

🔗 Connect with Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

The power of a great network can’t be overstated—and Noah Berkson is an expert community builder.

He's a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits, founder and host of the Dose of Greatness podcast, Co-Founder of Outcove Valley a series of events for high caliber leaders, and a member of YPO.

He’s made 1,000+ introductions in the last year (3 per day!).

We discuss:

✅ Make introductions the right way – Always provide context so both people see the value.

✅ Say yes to everything in your 20s – Opportunities come from showing up.

✅ Pick up the tab – When dining with someone much wealthier, covering the bill makes an impression.

✅ Make friends, not “connections” – Real relationships > transactional networking.

✅ Find your X factor – He cold-DM’d Jess Mah because she flies planes. A unique hook stands out.

✅ Vulnerability is underrated – Being open, stumbling, and failing brings people closer.

Tune in to learn more about the cold outreach, handling objections, and the biggest mistake people make about networking.

Follow Noah Berkson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahberkson/

Follow Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Feedback & Sponsorship: [email protected]

🎧 Listen now to Permission to Shine (#57).

What happens when you leave a thriving business to chase your true calling?

Garrett Adair co-founded VitaFive, a successful gummy vitamin company, but deep down, he knew his real dream was music.

Encouraged by Luke Bryan, he took a leap of faith, moved to Nashville, and is now on tour playing to packed crowds.

In this episode, Garrett shares:
🎸 Why he walked away from a booming business to pursue music full-time
🎸 The challenges of switching from entrepreneurship to the music industry
🎸 How his faith and family shaped his journey
🎸 What it’s really like to go all-in on your passion

This is a story about taking risks, following your gut, betting on yourself, and staying consistent.

Follow Garrett Adair: https://www.instagram.com/garrettadair/?hl=en

Follow Permission To Shine: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_/

Follow Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Thanks for listening!

Feedback & Sponsorship: [email protected]

What happens when you flatline for over 20 minutes and wake up weeks later, completely paralyzed?

Brad Cunningham knows firsthand. He's the author of Resilience Unbroken: My Story of True Survivals.

In this powerful episode, Brad shares his unbelievable survival story—first battling cancer at 25, spending six months in the hospital, and then suffering cardiac arrest in 2023, where his heart stopped for over 20 minutes.

Doctors weren’t sure he’d wake up. He did.

But he went from marathon runner to wheelchair-bound, forced to rebuild his life from the ground up.

Through it all, Brad learned three lessons that changed everything:
1️⃣ Resilience is a choice—even when you have no control.
2️⃣ The right support system is the difference between surviving and thriving.
3️⃣ Struggles don’t just leave scars, they leave lessons.

This is a story of grit, survival, and the power of the human spirit.

If you’ve ever faced adversity—or want to hear what real resilience looks like—this episode is a must-listen.

Brad is the Founder of Open Horizon Analytics where he utilizes his 30+ years of experience to provide data science expertise.

Purchase Brad's book here: https://www.amazon.com/RESILIENCE-UNBROKEN-Story-True-Survivals/dp/B0DMV96LYF

Follow Andrew Namanny here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Follow Brad Cunningham here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradcunningham23/

In this episode of Permission to Shine, I sit down with Tracy Tutor, powerhouse real estate broker, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star, and one of the most confident negotiators in the game. 

We dive deep into:

🔥 The LA fires and how they’re reshaping the insurance market

Tracy doesn’t hold back, sharing the mindset shifts that took her from agent to industry titan. 

Whether you're in real estate, sales, or just want to level up your confidence, this episode is for you.

Thanks for listening!

Follow Tracy Tutor: https://www.instagram.com/tracytutor?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Follow Permission to Shine: https://www.instagram.com/tracytutor?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Follow Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Wan Kim is the owner and CEO of Smoothie King, overseeing 1,202 stores and $850M annually. 

Originally an immigrant from South Korea, Wan and I discuss: 

Connect with Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Connect with Wan Kim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wan-kim-3a4a604/

Send your feedback and thoughts to: [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

Hey, hey, hey it's Andrew Namanny -- welcome back!

GPS, the INTERNET, Siri, Night Vision, Autonomous Vehicles -- they all started in DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency). It's the powerful government agency you've never heard of.

Taryn Rose works for DARPA. She's a former orthopedic surgeon and successful founder of a $40M shoe company.

We talk about:

-Why DARPA was started to defend us against German attacks

-The genetic make up of successful entrepreneurs

-Appearing on Oprah and what it did for her business

-Taryn's first amputation

-What DARPA looks for in a partnership

-Developing synthetic blood to solve our blood crisis

Plus, we have a lot of fun and I know you will too while listening.

As always, reach out anytime at: [email protected]

Taryn Rose LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarynrose/

Andrew Namanny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Permission To Shine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

**Today's episode is sponsored by Ajax Partners, a team of award winning sales professionals who work across tech, medical devices, CPG, and more. Ajax partners directly with CEO's, sales managers, and sales reps to increase sales. Reach out to [email protected] to learn more.**

Hey it’s Andrew, welcome to episode #51. We’ve got a very special entrepreneur today so thanks for joining me.

Daina Trout is Co-Founder and former CEO of Health-Ade Kombucha. She went on to sell the company after growing it to 65,000 stores and nearly $200M in annual revenue. 

She is raw, open, and honest like you wouldn’t expect a CEO to be. It’s one of my biggest takeaways from our convo — ALWAYS BE YOU! 

Daina started the company alongside her husband and best friend. 

Originally starting at the Los Angeles farmers market they experienced rapid growth. 

Daina opens up about the biggest challenges she faced, the pro’s and con’s of starting a company with loved ones, and whether or not she’d do it again. 

She’s now onto her next endeavors, this time in the creative space and she shares her big plans.

Sign up for Andrew’s Almanac where I highlight a person, place, and interview every other week: https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/c1c845ac-01a1-49f8-920d-54a20c7e912c?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D

Feedback & Sponsorship Email: [email protected] 

Andrew Namanny Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Daina Trout Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dainatrout/?hl=en

Permission to Shine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY KNOTTY WOOD BBQ. 

Knotty Wood Barbecue Company crafts the first and only 100% Pure Almond Wood BBQ pellets. Almond Wood BBQ pellets from the orchards in California’s Central Valley offer a rare opportunity to grill with a unique flavor that you cannot find in ANY other pellet.  Almond Wood pellets give off a wonderful balance of a nutty sweetness coupled with a distinct smoke profile without any bitter taste. These pellets burn hot and clean Almond Wood is perfect for ALL meats. See for yourself why these are getting rave reviews!  Selling online at Home Depot.com with free shipping.

Family owned and operated out of Woodland, CA and rooted in our "From Field to BBQ philosophy, Almond trees are locally sourced and grown in real orchards by real farmers. Then carefully harvested, transported and crafted at our custom pellet mill. We personally oversee every single step of the process. It is an unprecedented chain of custody and our quality is guaranteed. 100% Pure and Natural Almond Wood. No Fillers. No Oils. No Additives. No Substitutes, Ever.

I used to live in the BBQ capital of the world, Kansas City, MO, and let me tell you — they all use Knotty Wood. 

Purchase at Home Depot, with free shipping: https://www.homedepot.com/b/KNOTTY-WOOD-BARBECUE-COMPANY/N-5yc1vZst8

Hi It’s Andrew, welcome to episode #50. 

We’ve got a special guest today and I know you’re going to love it. 

Eric Byrnes spent 11 electric years in the MLB. He’s in the UCLA baseball hall of fame. 

Following his professional athlete career, he dove into endurance sports and has completed a triathlon across America, the Western States 100, several Ironman races, and more. 

He’s a media personality including roles as an ESPN analyst and founder of the No Filter Network, a media sports hub. 

He holds a Guinness World Recorded for golfing 420 holes in 24 hours. 

He’s author of books Let Them Play, The Daily Hustle, and F*It list. 

Having experienced ADHD he’s passionate about getting kids active and it’s why he started the Let Them Play foundation. 

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy the convo, please share it with a loved one. 

Feedback & Sponsorship: [email protected] 

Andrew Namanny Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Eric Byrnes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebyrnes22?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==

Permission to Shine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY KNOTTY WOOD BBQ. 

Knotty Wood Barbecue Company crafts the first and only 100% Pure Almond Wood BBQ pellets. Almond Wood BBQ pellets from the orchards in California’s Central Valley offer a rare opportunity to grill with a unique flavor that you cannot find in ANY other pellet.  Almond Wood pellets give off a wonderful balance of a nutty sweetness coupled with a distinct smoke profile without any bitter taste. These pellets burn hot and clean Almond Wood is perfect for ALL meats. See for yourself why these are getting rave reviews!  Selling online at Home Depot.com with free shipping.

I used to live in the BBQ capital of the world, Kansas City, MO, and let me tell you — they all use Knotty Wood. 

Purchase at Home Depot, with free shipping: https://www.homedepot.com/b/KNOTTY-WOOD-BARBECUE-COMPANY/N-5yc1vZst8